Doors Noir

I haven't posted any updates about the house because, well... not much has been going on. The only thing we've been working on is painting the trim because when the house was painted, the trim was not. And there's ALOT of trim. Just to give you an idea of how much.. we've gotten quotes of 7k, just to paint the freakin' trim.

Needless to say, we've been trying to tackle the task. It's been slow going because neither of us have tons of time to dedicate to it. It's a little frustrating but it will get done.

In addition to the trim, I've decided I want the doors painted black. At first, we agreed on just the front door and I just love the chicness of the look...glossy and black:

These doors are so fierce and the brass hardware in the center, just sings!

 

Now, I'm considering replacing all the doors in the house and painting those black as well. It will certainly pop against the all white walls.

These are the doors I'm considering:

And they will look like this after applying some glossy, oil based paint goodness:

So pretty!

These are fab too:

I love these rustic doors, the texture is awesome and the black makes it modern.

Draper Doors!!

Thank you Sharon, you're the bestest!!   You may be wondering why Sharon is the bestest... well it's because she featured these fab Dorothy Draper inspired doors on her blog and was kind enough to provide me with a link so I may purchase my very own glam doors!! 

I think they would be stunning as is or painted a high gloss black. Yummmmm. The best part is I can special order the doors from Lowe's.

See? Isn't Sharon the bestest?

Seamless Storage

I'm a stickler for things being in their place and uncluttered-ness. These photos of seamless storage has me clutching my pearls.

I also love the efficient use of slim spaces. I need this in my kitchen.

This laundry room is so perfect, soothing pale yellow color, hidden appliances, lovely french doors... I'm smitten. Those sliding doors are the cat's meow.

I actually enjoy doing laundry, it's so relaxing to me but I know I would enjoy it so much more in this laundry room.

When One Door Opens...

You find a beautiful room.

Check out that MOLDING around that fab door!! Swoon.

Zebra Doors!!!

Love these extra tall doors  punctuated with the crystal door knobs.

Before and Afters

I finally got around to painting the fireplace. Whew.. glad that's finally over.

The fireplace before it's glamafication.

The French doors and fireplace after priming.

Finished product. It's all glossy and fabulous.

I love how the fireplace is highlighted.

 I decided not to paint the French doors black because I thought it would make the wall look shorter and my goal is to make everything look as spacious as possible.

While I was at it, I used some spray paint to paint the circle end tables. I had never spray painted anything before and now that I have.... I LOVE IT!!! I wanna spray paint EVERYTHING!! I almost spray painted our garbage cans gold, too. We would have had the fanciest garbage cans in the neighborhood.

The obsession begins...

Love the result!

So much better!

Me likey!

 I still have to work on a vignette for the fireplace and the mirrored console. I want to add a circular mirror for over the fireplace to repeat the circles in the tables. Beyond that, I need to study glam vignettes that I have in my inspiration folders and glean a look from there.

I'm going to order our custom sofa and sectional next week. YEAAAAA! I can't wait to finally have a sofa in the living room. Still want a daybed too.. not sure if I will go the custom route or get this one from Macy's.

More Pics Of The House

Living room window seat - sorry for dark photo

View from living room into foyer and library/family room

Foyer light fixture - Not a fan but it may grow on me

Trying to decide if we want these built ins. See that window on the left? It's actually a door to a side porch. Not sure why that was done. Another reason I'm not sure we will keep the built ins.

Stodgy wallpaper lends to the "library" feel - Not a fan. See the French doors on the left of picture, in living room? That's what's supposed to be in the "library".

Love the fireplace though

Dining room and sunroom off to the right

LOVE this window. It also has a seat with storage.

One of the bedrooms - love the window seat nook

Bird tiles on fireplace in guest bedroom - Not a fan

Love this bathroom, has great bones.

I will post pics of the kitchen when I can take some better ones.

Girl Meets Grill

I came across a totally cool company that provides prefabricated outdoor kitchens. I'm SUCH a fan of the outdoor "room" and all the entertainment possibilities, so this immediately piqued my attention.

While it may be too late now, getting our backyard (for the near future house) soiree ready will be the first thing on the agenda come next Spring. And I will have these guys on speed dial. Check out this before and after.

The blank canvas and kinda smallish space....

The completed outdoor kitchen! I'm in serious love people!!!

The company Island Cabanas, creates a custom layout for your outdoor kitchen based on your specifications and what will work best for your allotted space. They then ship you the frame with all the rough openings for appliances, doors, etc. When you get it, you flex your DIY muscles and finish the kitchen with faux rock, stone, brick, stucco, then add your countertop. Viola, a custom outdoor kitchen.

I know this outdoor kitchen is all my darlin' Hubby can talk about, he wants one so badly. And all I can talk about is a pool. So together, the kitchen and pool will make beautiful memories together, just like us.

Living Room Inspiration

I haven't posted any updates to the house in a long while but they are coming. The first on deck will be my new office space that will house my greatest decor love to date. I'm so excited to finally have my own office space, bloggin' on my lap gets old really quick but I digress.

Lately, I have been loving adding more warmth to my home by way of beautiful wood. I have ALOT of white in my house and the luxuriousness of beautiful wood anchors the spaces and also provides visual interests, especially an older piece.

So, I totally was floored when I saw this image of a wood fireplace:

via

How absolutely GORGEOUS is this fireplace??!! I am swooning so freakin' hard at this fireplace design.

I wonder if my living room mantle is real wood and if so, can I strip it and stain it? I already black marble on that fireplace.. I think with a little or a lot of elbow grease, I can have something equally fabulous!

This is how my current fireplace looks.. I painted it a glossy black. You can't see it from this photo but trust me, it's glossy and black. Do you think a revealing the wood on the fireplace would be fabulous?

My do-list is never ending.. I plan to remove the mirrored console and add a more seating and maybe drapes to the French doors leading to the side porch. I need to finally get around to getting an area rug, some art and more lighting in that room, it's screaming for a chandelier. *le sigh*

Sometimes I feel that my living room is overwhelming and I need to edit it down a bit. Add a little bit more Traditional.. I do love the core pieces.. the sofa, piano and coffee table.. oh and the drapes. They are boss! But maybe there's room for changing everything else. What do you think? Any suggestions?

*sniffle*

Usually I like to keep my blog lively and upbeat...no sad news here...it's my happy place. And I wrestled with the thought of posting this but it is my wedding blog and it does have to do with the wedding so here we go...

Today I received a call from the catering manager from our reception location. She started with, "I have bad news..." My immediate thought was maybe she was leaving the company and someone else was going to be taking over my account. Ummmm no such luck... she told me that due to the economy, they was closing their doors effective immediately. *gasp*

She went on to tell me that I would be refunded my deposit... At this time, I'm hearing white noise in my ears.. what did she say? I can't hear...the white noise.. I feel warm tears beginning to stream down my face...I can't speak...she's talking.. I can't speak.. the massive lump in my throat is holding my voice hostage... more tears coming... faster and bigger.. I still can't hear...

Then finally I'm able to eek out..."I'm so sorry...you won't have a job... I'm so sorry." She tries to be strong but I can hear her crying too. I feel so awful. She then gave me her cell phone number and tells me that I can call her anytime if I need help with anything.

I hang up. Then I start to wail.. it was like there was a death. It was really strange...who was this woman crying like this? I'm usually a very go with the flow type of person and very solution oriented...who was this? I couldn't control it... there was heaving and everything! Who WAS this??

My bestie said that it was my release valve...all the pressure with life, business, family and wedding planning. That it was needed. Maybe... perhaps she's right.

The weird thing was I don't think I was nearly as upset about the closing as I was about this really nice lady and all the great people I had JUST met at my tasting last week, had lost their jobs.

The economy really sucks.

What I'm Loving Today

This wallpaper is just beyond.... so beyond, I can't even speak!!! Decor Demon, you, Sir, are BADASS!

JEWEL TABLES!!!! Need I say more?? I don't think so but I can't help myself... these beauties are mirrored acrylic and shine just like black diamonds. I love that they are functional art... I can check my makeup while placing a martini on it.

I was watching an episode of True Blood and in one scene my eyes beheld these fabulous sterling silver doors and I've been obsessed with sterling silver furniture ever since. I LOVE this Indian inspired silver console. The details are exquisite and I'm quite glamoured by it. 

This post is all over the place with decor elements, no cohesion what so ever but hey, it's what I'm loving today!

Gilded Entry, The Remix

Much better.. I just shopped my house for accessories. I will swap items as I find them. Home Goods, here I come!!

Then I decided to jazz up the front door. I was inspired by French interiors with gold trim on the doors.

Need to get around to changing the foyer lighting.. and the family room for that matter. But I like how everything is coming along.

I think I need a rug or runner for the foyer but I have no idea what to get.

Monochromatic accessories..  Asian scholar figurine and lidded box for keys and mail. It will do for now.

Curtain Call

I have been looking at window treatments lately. I have no coverings on any of my windows except for one of the bathrooms and that was there when we moved in. Terrible, I know.

In my defense, I didn't want to spend money to put something up, just to turn around and take it back down once I decided what I wanted a certain room or space to look like and/or how to adorn the windows.

I've been perusing the different types of options.. panel drapes, balloon and roman drapes are standouts for me and my style.

I these looks, panel and balloon shades, separately.

I believe I want to do a roman shade or more specifically a "London" shade for the family and dining rooms. Panels for the living and breakfast rooms.

I will be working on window treatments in the living room first so here's what I'm thinking.. two different looks.


Striped panels for the French doors:

via

And for framing the bay window, solid panels with an interesting trim, like these:

or this:

via

I also have to choose what type of top header I want.

French Pleat

Goblet Pleat

Inverted Pleat

Parisian Pleat

I must say, I adore the Goblet Pleat.

I watched a video discussing this curtain header options and while they say that the Goblet Pleat is very formal, it just looks really fun and cute to me.



What do you think about having different window treatments in the same room?